Danny Ainge Admits Kevin Garnett’s Fire Could Be Destructive
· Yahoo Sports
Danny Ainge knows the truth about the 2008 championship team. The former Celtics president says Kevin Garnett’s intense drive helped them win, but it also had a dark side. Ainge told Yahoo Sports that while the fire was needed, it could scare people right out of the locker room. It was a major force that defined that era in Boston.
Garnett changed everything when he arrived. He made the team want to win the title. But Ainge noted that the same intensity that built a champion could also tear a team apart if players could not handle it. “If you don’t meet his expectations,” Ainge assessed KG. “He has no use for you.” That simple line explains why some players felt the pressure was too much to bear.
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The Fear Factor
Not everyone could handle the Big Ticket. Ainge said the experience was sometimes too much for him too. “It was a little scary to have KG around him,” he added. The work ethic was perfect, but the person was hard to deal with. If a player did not react the right way, Garnett could be destructive. This was the price of the championship culture.
Other players felt the same way. Chauncey Billups played with Garnett in Minnesota and saw the same thing. Billups tried to tell Garnett that not everyone plays with that same fire. But it was hard to change his mind. Billups said, “Just because someone doesn’t play with the same fire as KG, it doesn’t mean they’re soft.” You can care a lot without screaming and yelling.
KG Knew He Needed Help
Even Garnett knew his own style was extreme. He admitted he had to calm down sometimes. He found a weird way to do it. The former MVP stated that he relied on the soothing music of Kenny G to relax his mind. “I heard Kenny G as a snake charmer,” Garnett once divulged. He would close his eyes and let the saxophone music help him see his thoughts.
This history matters now. The Celtics have a new star in Paul George who is in his 17th year. George told NBC Sports Boston that he does not care about scoring anymore. He said, “At this point in my career, year 17, that’s all I care about. I don’t care about scoring. I don’t care about whatever it is. It’s all about winning.” He wants the ring more than anything.
The Legacy of Intensity
The 2008 team proved that intensity wins. But it also showed the cost. Ainge understood that Garnett’s approach was not for everyone. He said, “His work ethic was unquestioned, but he could be intimidating — and destructive — if the player didn’t respond in the right way.” The team won the title in 2008, but the path was rough. Some players thrived under the pressure. Others just wanted to leave.
Today’s Celtics are different. They have Jayson Tatum leading the way. Tatum scored well against Orlando on Sunday night. Magic coach Sean Sweeney admitted the Celtics defense was too tough. “And then defensively, they had a couple tough shots made by (Jayson) Tatum,” Sweeney said. The team is 5-1 and looking good.